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Literature Companion: Fences
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The subject matter of the play is highly challenging. It is a highly acclaimed play and even today it draws large audiences wherever it is performed.
It is also pointed out that “Fences” is a dense and unsettling play. The play runs for three hours, heavily laden with lost hope and broken dreams. Some people say that the length of the play makes it depressing after some time.
The theme of the idea of creation of order runs throughout the play. It is the most significant and compelling theme of the play.
Literature Companion: Fences
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Act One
Act Two
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis
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Book preview
Literature Companion - History World
Literature Companion: Fences
History World
Copyright
Literature Companion: Fences
History World
Copyright@2014 History World
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved
Chapter One: Introduction
Fences
by August Wilson was first performed in 1983. It is the sixth play written by this highly acclaimed American playwright.
The play is set in the 1950s. The play is the part of the ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle written by August Wilson.
Similar to the other plays written by the playwright, Fence
also explores the themes of race-relations, evolving African-American experiences, etc.
Fences
received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama in the year 1987. In the same year, it was also given Tony Award for Best Play. The pay was highly acclaimed by critics, reviewers, and audiences.
It is noticeable that Fences
collected $11 million in the first year of its production. It is a record amount for a non-musical play. The play eventually went on to win four Tony Awards.
The play is said to have greatly impacted popular theatre. The success of this play proved that the people did not only want to watch popular musicals and comedies but also serious plays which deal with social, racial, and cultural problems of the contemporary period.
Since the play includes three generations of African-American men, critics often call it a ‘generational play. The three generations in the play are Troy Maxson, Troy’s father, and his son.
Father and son theme is highly significant in the play. It has been performed in several foreign countries, even in China. It shows the thematic power of the play across cultures.
The play is often prescribed to the students of literature in school and colleges around the world. It is a widely discussed play in the academic circles around the world.
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
The play is basically focused on Troy, the central character. He is a 53 years old head of the family. He has to struggle hard to provide for his family.
The location has not been made clear in the play, but it can be assumed that the place is Pittsburgh because several famous institutions are alluded to.
Troy used to be a famous baseball player in his youth. He had been imprisoned for an accidental murder which he was said to have committed ruing a robbery. He continued to practice baseball in the prison.
In those days, the black players were not paid as much money as the white players were paid, and the color barrier had not yet been shattered in Major League Baseball. As a result, Troy never got an opportunity to earn good amount of money for his future. However, there is a
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